16 – 18 years

Take your careers research to the next level with the information on GMACS.

Explore the MBacc gateway resources

The Greater Manchester Baccalaureate could help you discover your pathway to a job in Greater Manchester. Explore the resources by clicking below.

A group of young people studying together in a room.

Discover the top industries in Greater Manchester

Find out which sectors in GM are growing quickly, research the top employers, and see which pathways you could take to start your career. There’s also some information about the top jobs in each sector.

Find out more about education and training

If you’re thinking about staying in education or you’d like to know more about the training courses you could take, research your options on GMACS.

Use Xello to explore your options

Xello is a tool that you can use to research your career and education options and build your own career profile. It’s available for free to every state high school and college in Greater Manchester, so you’ll need to get access through your college. Once you’ve got access, you can use it to explore your career options and think about what you’d like to do.

Get started with opportunities and support

Greater Manchester has lots of opportunities for you to experience working life or volunteer with a local organisation to get valuable skills. Plus, there’s loads of support you can access – from help with interview prep to free skills boosters. See some opportunities specifically for your age group below.

Free Home Education Resources from Youth Employment UK

Free Home Education Resources from Youth Employment UK

Explore these free online courses designed for home educated young people. They’ve been developed by Youth Employment UK specifically for young people who are home educated. These courses don’t assume you are studying in school, or studying for set subjects or...

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Commonword Identity Writers Group

Commonword Identity Writers Group

Identity is a group where Global Majority* writers can share their creative writing, discuss literature and learn about opportunities and events. Identity has long played a key role in nurturing black and Asian writers based in Manchester and in the north of England...

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Our Pass, more than just a bus pass…

If you’re aged 16-18 in GM, you could get Our Pass, a membership scheme for young people that gives you free bus travel, discounted tram travel, and exclusive discounts and offers.

Discover exciting careers events in your community

There’s lots of events on offer near you, whether you want to meet prospective employers, learn more about further education or get mentoring and other support. See events tailored for your age group here or see what’s happening in your area.

Bolton College Open Day Event

Bolton College Open Day Event

Date: 19/06/2025
Time: 5pm-8pm
Suitable for: All ages

Open events are the best way to discover what studying at Bolton College is like, giving you an insight into the courses on offer as well as the opportunity to check out the amazing facilities.

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Oldham College Open Day Event

Oldham College Open Day Event

Date: 21/06/2025
Time: 10am-1pm
Suitable for: All ages

Join this event on Saturday 21st June, 10am-1pm to meet the tutors and support staff, see the facilities and find out more about what Oldham College and University Campus Oldham have to offer.

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Generation Logistics Week

Generation Logistics Week

Date: 23/06/2025
Time: Monday 23rd - Friday 27th, 9.15am-12pm
Suitable for: All ages

Generation Logistics Week unlocks the best career paths in the logistics sector for young people in just five days!

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Hear from people like you on our blog

Our blog has posts and articles from young people sharing their experiences. We also have expert advice from people already working in industry.

Read about real people’s careers

You can learn a lot from reading about other people’s experiences in the workplace and the career options they chose to get there. Explore some examples below.